Hosiery form

ABSTRACT

A hosiery form for semi-boarding hoisery articles is collapsible to facilitate loading and stripping. Each form comprises a pair of upstanding leg forms which together accomodate a bifurcated hosiery article. Each leg form comprises a pair of generally parallel elongated rods attached at one end to a base. One of the rods is fixed and the other rod is laterally movable. Attached to the free ends of the rods are a pair of interlocked toe expansion plates that are so configured as to accomodate the toe of the hosiery article. An expansion mechanism is connected to the movable rod to move it between the expanded position and the collapsed position. The expansion mechanism has a spring biased overthrow linkage to hold the rods in either the expanded position or the collapsed position.

United'states Patent Murray 223/77 Glaze, Jr. 51 May 21, 1974 [54] R0515 FORM I FOREIGN PATENTS on APPLICATIONS [75] Inventor John Glaze Charlotte 22,629 11/1893 Great Britain 223/77 [73] Assignee: Intech Corporation, Charlotte, NC. A

. Primary Examiner-George l-I. Krizmanich [22] Filed: Aug. 18, 1972 I [2]] Appl. No.: 281,979 [57] ABSTRACT A hosiery form for semi-boarding hoisery articles is Related Application Data collapsible to facilitate loading and stripping. Each [62] DlVlSlOll of Ser. No. 66,338, Aug. 24, 1970, Pat. No. form comprises a pail. of upstanding leg forms which 3304565 together accomodate a bifurcated hosiery article. Each leg form comprises a pair of generally parallel 2% 223/74 223/ elongated rods attached at one end to a base. One of d 12cm 77 the rods is fixed and the other rod is laterally movable. g 1 0 care Attached to the free ends of the rods are a pair of interlocked toe expansion plates that are so configured [56] Reerences cued as to accomodate the toe of the hosieryarticler An ex- UNITED STATES PATENTS pansion mechanism is connected to the movable rod 3,471,068 I D/i969 Foreman; 223/74 X to move it between the expanded position andthe 001 3,054,542 9/1962 Glaze et al 223/ l 12 lap ed position The expansion mechanism has a 9 g? 3 spring biased overthrow .linkage to hold the rods in eif "15ml 13.81783 I 1932 Pierson ther the expanded position orthecollapsed POSlllOl'la 2,120,219

12 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures I-IOSIERY FORM RELATED APPLICATION This is a division of Application Ser. No. 66,338, filed Aug. 24, 1970, now Pat. No. 3,704,565.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an improved boarding form for use in the production and processing of hosiery articles, upon which hosiery garments and the like are mounted for straightening, inspection and treating. This improved form is especially useful in the processing of hosiery articles knit from synthetic stretch yarn, and is particularly well adapted to the processing of garments such as knit leotards, panty hose, tights, or the like, hereinafter referred to generally as panty hose or panty garments.

The advent in recent years of the super-stretch, synthetic yarns has revolutionized the hosiery industry. Not only has this development made possible a reduction in the number of sizes of stockings produced, or the elimination of sizing entirely by the super-stretch, one-size-fits-all garment, but it also has resulted in many changes in the methods and procedures employed in the production, packaging and marketing of the garments. For example, the conventional boarding operation, essential prior to the super-stretch yarns, cannot be employed in the production of stockings knit from synthetic stretch yarns because the conventional boarding process either destroys or greatly impairs the stretch qualities of the fabric.

The elimination of the boarding operation has greatly complicated the packaging operation since unboarded garments lack the finished, smooth appearance imparted by the boarding operation so that it is difficult to insert them into a conventional flat package.

The difficulties precipitated by the popularity of the stretch synthetic fibers employed in the production of hosiery were further complicated by the almost simultaneous increase in popularity of panty hose. Thus, the shift was, in effect, from the conventional, sized stocking to the super-stretch panty garment. While this shift has produced much speculation of increased automation and the accompanying reduction in cost, workable solutions to the obvious problems have not been readily apparent. For example, super-stretch garments must be treated, inspected, transferred and packaged in a manner that will not unduly stretch the garment, for the garment becomes misshapen if stretched beyond its elastic limits. However, the articles also must be flattened and shaped to such a degree as to be easily packaged, and so they present an attractive appearance to the purchaser upon removal from the package.

Accordingly. it is the object of this invention to provide an improved hosiery form upon which hosiery articles can be temporarily mounted for straightening, inspecting, treating and conveying. The term semiboarding" is employed in this application to denote a process in which hosiery articles, including panty hose, are temporarily boarded", or mounted on a boarding form for such time as it takes to straighten and flatten the article to eliminate excess wrinkles, to inspect the article, and to treat by processes such as heat treating. The semi-boarding form is an open frame structure which is collapsible tofacilitate loading and unloading of the garments, and is expandable to slightly stretch and shape the garment. Once expanded, the open frame form can be passed before an illuminated screen or panel which permits a ready and efficient inspection of the garment before it passes into a treatment chamber where sufficient heat is applied to dry the damp garment, and to eliminate wrinkles and substantially set the garment to the smooth, flat shape of the form without relaxing the yarn sufficiently to materially affect its stretch qualities.

Upon leaving the treatment chamber, the form is automatically collapsed, and the treated garment can be automatically stripped from the form by a pneumatic stripper and conveyed .to a stacking machine or to an automatic packaging machine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention, taken with the drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a plan view schematically illustrating an apparatus for straightening, inspecting and treating panty hose incorporating the present invention;

" FIG2 is an enlarged plan view of the hosiery form of the invention, in combination with apparatus for loading, conveying, inspecting and stripping the form;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the semi-boarding form of this invention, in the collapsed position, illustrating also a portion of the form conveyor and the mechanism for expanding and collapsing the forms;

FIG-4 is a viewtaken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a view of the semi-boarding form of FIG. 4 in the expanded position;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 77 of FIG. 3, illustrating a portion of a pneumatic stripping and conveyor mechanism that can be used with the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the manufacture of stretch panty hose from synthetic yarns, it is the conventional practice to knit the garment, either as a unitary structure (except for the elastic waistband) or as separate components which are subsequently sewn together, from undyed yarns and subsequently subjecting the undyed articles to shrinking and dyeing operations. An improved method and apparatus for shrinking and/or dyeing these garments is disclosed and described in copending U.S. Pat. No. 3,686,726, assigned to the assignee of this invention, and the present invention is particularly well adapted for use in combination with the method and apparatus of that application, the present invention being especially useful for further processing of both panty hose and conventional stretch stockings processed in accordance with the teachings of that earlier copending application.

Shown in FIG. 1 is a semi-boarding machine 12, of the type integrated into the hosiery manufacturing system described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,686,726. emiboarding machine 12 delivers semi-boarded panty hose to a conveyor system 14 for selective delivery either to stacking apparatus or to automatic packaging apparatus (not shown). Dyed shrunk garments from a shrinking and dyeing apparatus (not shown), preferably in their damp, extracted condition, are conveyed individually through a conveyor system indicated generally by the reference numeral to the loading station 13 of semi-boarding machine 12.

The individual garments are then loaded, with the aid of a vacuum assist loading device 24 on the top of semiboarding machine 12, onto the improved collapsible, open frame boarding forms 26 of this invention (see FIG. 3). After the garments are telescoped onto the Y collapsed form 26, the form is expanded to slightly stretch the garments to flatten the legs and body portion and to remove any wrinkles therefrom. The expanded forms 26 then pass before an illuminated inspection screen 28 to permit the loading operator to inspect the garments through the open frame form 26 for any defects.

After the panty hose have been inspected on the semi-boarding forms 26, the forms are conveyed by an endless chain 30 (FIG. 3) through a conventional treatment chamber 32 (FlG. 1) where heated air dries the garments and tends to set them in their slightly expanded or stretched condition so that, when removed, the panty hose may be laid flat without excessive effort being required to straighten and remove wrinkles therefrom.

Leaving the treatment chamber 32 and continuing along their endless path, the semi-boarding forms 26 pass a stripping station 15 where forms 26 are automatically collapsed, as indicated in FIG. 7, to facilitate stripping. At stripping station 15, the upper, toe ends of forms 26 are positioned immediately beneath the open end 34 of a pneumatic conveyor tube 36, and a flow of air is induced along the toes of the form to lift the toes of the panty hose and convey them into the open end 34 and strip the panty hose from the form 26.

The pneumatic panty hose conveyor contains a selector valve assembly (not shown) for selectively directing panty hose passing therethrough either to a stocking apparatus. to a packaging machine, or to a depository for defective garments.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 2 through 8, the mechanism for loading panty hose onto the forms 26, and for inspecting, semi-boarding, and stripping panty hose from the forms 26, will be described in detail. The garments are loaded onto collapsed boarding forms 26 at a loading station 13 and are then semi-boarded and inspected on the boarding forms 26. Then the garments are passed through a treating station 32 and are finally stripped from the collapsed boarding forms 26 at a stripping station 15. The basic boarding machine 12 is of the general type illustrated in greater detail in U.S. Pat. No. 3,054,542. The lower, base portion of the frame and cabinet assembly 48 serves as a housing for a drive assembly, (not shown in detail) which ordinarily includes a drive motor acting through a clutch assembly to drive a main drive sprocket having spaced notches around its outer periphery for engaging the connector pins of a conveyor chain 30. The base portion of the cabinet assembly also houses a conventional blower assembly which directs air upwardly over a steam coil assembly (not shown) and into a treatment chamber 32 to treat panty hose on the forms 26 passing therethrough.

A vacuum assist loading mechanism 24 can be used to facilitate loading of the forms 26, and is mounted on the top wall 98 of the semi-boarding machine 12.

Mechanism 24 comprises a relatively thin, flat hollow housing 100 having an annular opening in the top wall 10] thereof near the back of housing 100 and a short, annular shroud 102 mounted within the opening and projecting upwardly therefrom. An electric motor 105 drives an exhaust fan 106 to draw air inwardly through the open inlet 107, and to blow air outwardly through a series of louvers 113 beneath inlet 107. Vacuum assist loading mechanism 24 is fully described in copending application Ser. No. 66,338, filed Aug. 24, l97l, now US. Pat. No. 3,704,565 and assigned to the same assignee as this application. Vacuum assist loading mechanism 24 draws a panty hose garment into opening 107 and suspends it on a cushion of air, with the legs extended as it is telescoped onto one of the collapsed semi-boarding frames 26 by the operator.

lnlet 107 is wide enough to permit several operators to work simultaneously as empty, collapsed semiboarding forms 26 are continuously moved past loading station 13. Once loaded, the forms 26 are expanded to permit inspection and treatment of the garments thereon, as explained below.

As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 6, the improved semiboarding forms 26 of this invention each include a base 116, which preferably is in the form ofa relatively thin metal bar or plate, having a pair of downwardly extending pins 118 rigidly welded on its bottom edge in position to fit into the open centers of adjacent ones of the tubular pin members 62 that connect together the links of chain 30. The length of base 116 may be somewhat greater than the length ofa single chain link, but is less than the length of two chain links so that a form may be mounted on each successive pair of pins 62 with base 116 remaining parallel to and spaced directly above one link of the chain throughout its movement around the endless path through the boarding apparatus. By the use of particular chain constructions, as shown in the aforementioned copending application Ser. No. 66,338, adjacent base elements 116 of successive forms 26 can be disposed in aligned, end-to-end relation as they move in front of inspection screen 28, and in parallel, side-by-side relation as they move through the treatment chamber 32. It should be realized, however, that form 26 need not be mounted on such a base or incorporated into the particular apparatus described, for it also has utility in other situations.

A first pair of elongated, slender, flat rod, or wire members 120 have their lower ends rigidly fixed, as by welding, to the top edge of base 116 and project upwardly therefrom in spaced, generally parallel relation to one another. A short horizontal rod 122 extends between and is rigidly welded to rods 120 at a point above base 116 to strengthen and stiffen the fixed rods 120.

A first pair of expansion plates 124, each generally triangular shaped and having rounded corners, are pivotally connected at one of their rounded corners, as by pins 126, one to the top of each of the rigid bars 120. A second pair of similar expansion plates 128 each have one rounded corner pivotally connected, as by pins 130 to a second corner of the expansion plates 124, and also have a second rounded corner pivotally connected, as by pins 132, one to each ofa pair of elongated, slender, flat rod members 134. A pair of elongated wire members 136 have one end pivotally connected, one to each of the pin members 130 as by a threaded clevis 138.

Bars 134 extend downwardly from their respective pivotal mounting pins 132 and terminate at their lower ends in a forked bracket 140 having one leg extending on each side of base 116 for sliding movement therealong. Movement of the fork 140 is limited in the direction toward rod 120 by the pins 118, and by the tubular pins 62, and in the direction away from rod 122 by a fixed pin 142 extending through and projecting outwardly from the sides of base 116. Vertical downward movement of rod 134 is limited by engagement of the fork with the top edge of base 116, while upward movement is limited by the expansion plates 124 and 128. Thus, rods 134 each cooperate with an adjacent rod 120 to define a pair of expansible and collapsible leg forms 131 each so dimensioned as to receive upon its upper portion one leg ofa pair of panty hose. The lower portions of the leg forms 131 collectively receive the body of the panty hose garment. The expansion plates 124 and 128 cooperate to close the top end of the leg forms 131, and to extend upwardly and expand the toe of a garment positioned on the form 131 in the manner illustrated in FlG. 6. While the pairs of leg forms 131 are shown in such a relationship to one another as to accommodate panty hose type garments, it should be understood that an individual leg form 131 can accept a single one of a pair of stockings, and where pairs of stockings are being treated, leg forms 131 need not be arranged in pairs. i I An over-center, spring-biased toggle structure is pivotally mounted on the lower ends of bars 134 to move them between the expanded position shown in FIG. 6 and the collapsed position shown in FIG. 3. The toggle structure includes a pair of elongated bars 144, 146 having their adjacent ends pivotally connected by a pin 148, and their opposed ends pivotally connected, as by pins 150, one to each of the movable rods 134. A pair of downwardly extending tabs 152, 154, are formed one on the respective bars 144, 146 and a coil spring 156 has its opposed ends connected to these tabs 152, 154 to resiliently urge them toward one another. Since spring 156 is disposed to one side of pin 148 when bars 144, 146 are in substantiallyaligned position as shown condition until forcibly deflected to position the pin 148 beneath the line of action of spring 156, at which time the spring will urge the toggle to the collapsed condition shown in FIG. 3. A tab 158 limits movement of the bars 144,146 in the upward direction, and a cam 160 is provided to engage a mating cam surface 162 mounted on the cabinet assembly 48 in position to automatically push the toggle over-center and collapse the form as the form approaches the stripping station following its exit from the treatment chamber 32. Wires 136 each have their lower ends pivotally connected to one of the toggle bars 144, in spaced relation to its associatedrod 134 to move pin 130 in a vertical direction to collapse and expand the toe of. the form 131, through the pivoted expansion plates 124, 128, in response to a movement of the over-center toggle arrangement.

From the above. it is seen that each of the movable rods 134 remains generally parallel, though slightly inclined, with respect to its associated rod 120 to provide a flat, substantially straight, slightly tapered leg form 131. Such forms 131 are intended primarily to smooth and flatten the panty hose rather than to stretch and set the hose as in a conventional boarding operation.

A reject button 163 is mounted on the leading rod 134 of each form 26. This reject button is in the form of a headed pin 164 supported for axial movement between an extended and a retracted position through an opening in the bar 134. Preferably the pin 164 is retained in the retracted or extended position by a detent (not shown) and is manually movable to the reject position to automatically actuate a switch 168, upon movement of the form 26 through the semi-boarding apparatus, to condition the conveyor mechanism to direct a defective garment to a reject collecting bag. A cam 166 mounted on cabinet assembly 48 automatically returns reject button 163 to the retracted position before the next garment is positioned on the form.

After the boarding forms 26 leave the treatment chamber 32, they pass a stripping station 15 in which the toe portions of the respective legs of each form 26 are positioned directly beneath the open end 34 of conveyor tube 36 (see FIGS. 2 and 7). Prior to reaching stripping station 15, cam has engaged and been deflected downwardly by cam surface 162 to collapse the boarding form to the condition shown in FIG. 3, thereby leaving the finished, treated panty hose hanging loosely on the collapsed form. As the form .26 reaches the position shown in FIG. 7, cam 160 engages limit switch 170 which energizes a solenoid valve 174, to direct high pressure air through jets 176 and upwardly along the toe portion of the forms to strip a pair of panty hose, toes first, from the collapsed form and direct them into the open inlet 34 of conveyor 36. This high pressure air directed into the conveyor tube 36 will convey the lightweight garments through the tube for a substantial distance without aid of other means. For longer conveying distances, and to provide a more positive control of the garments during stripping, a vacuum may be applied to the conveyor conduit 36 to assist the air-jet strippers. Alternatively, the air jets may be eliminated and vacuum alone relied on to strip and convey the garments.

Once the toes of the panty hose are inside the conveyor conduit, the flow of air caused by the jets directed into the inlet 34 will continue the stripping action to quickly strip the panty hose from form 26 even as the form continues its movement along its endless path. This stripping action is very-rapid and is normally substantially complete before the legs of form 26 are moved from beneath their conveyor inlet 34. Of course. while the inventive form is particularly well suited for use with pneumatic stripping devices such as that described above, it is also usable with other types of stripping systems.

As the form 26 leaves the stripping station, reject pin 164 passes cam surface 166 and, if it has been depressed as illustrated in FIG. 4, will be cammed back to the normal position before receiving another garment to avoid the possibility of an operator inadvertently failing to reset the reject button and thereby direct a good garment to the reject bag. The conveyor system is alerted by reject pin 164 of the presence of a rejected garment, and reacts by conveying the rejected garment to a reject bag rather than to the stack ing or packaging machinery.

In the operation of the system disclosed herein, of which the improved boarding form 26 is a part, the panty hose garments 22 are received at the loading station at the front of the semi-boarding machine where they are manually loaded onto the forms 26 moving continuously across the front of the machine. The garments may be delivered individually as through conveyor from the shrinking and dyeing apparatus, or in groups in bags or stacks from prior operations. An operator, standing in front of the loading station, picks up a pair of panty hose and, holding onto the elastic waistband at the top, flips the garment up in front of the inlet 107 of the vacuum assist loading device 24. The flow of air into the inlet 107 will quickly draw the legs of the damp garment into the vacuum chamber 108 to straighten the garment out from the operators hand. The operator then positions the open top of the garment over the toe portion of the form 26 and draws the garment downward to telescope it onto the form. Pressure air flowing out through louvers 113 balloons the garment up and out from the lower edge of inlet 107 and tends to keep the portion of the garment which extends into vacuum assist loading device 24 suspended in the airstream. This not only reduces the force required by the operatorto draw the damp garment from the vacuum assist loading device 24, but more importantly tends to direct the garment straight down onto the top of the form 26, thereby eliminating the uneven stretching of the garment as it is drawn onto the form.

With the panty hose drawn fully down on the collapsed forms 26 so that the toes of the garment engage the expansion plates 124, 128, the operator grasps the two rods 134 at a point below the garment and pulls the rods away from one another to slightly stretch the garment and move the toggle structure to its over-center position to retain the form in the expanded condition. This movement pivots the expansion plates 124, 128 up and out to expand and form the toe portions of the garment.

Since the plane of the forms 26, when moving along the front of the machine, is parallel to and spaced closely in front of the illuminated inspection screen 28, the loading operator can readily and quickly visually inspect the boarded garments for defects, through the open-frame form 26, as soon as the form is expanded. If the garment is found to be free of defects, no action is required by the operator. If a defect is detected, the operator simply depresses the reject button 163 and the treated garment will automatically be directed to the reject collecting bag. Since the operator does not have to remove the defective garment from the form 26 before it passes into the treatment chamber 32, a more reliable inspection is normally achieved.

The expanded forms 26 with the garments thereon are conveyed from the inspection positions in front of screen 28 through treatment chamber 32. When the forms 26 exit treatment chamber 32, they move to stripping station 15. As each form 26 moves into stripping station lS. cam 160 engages cam surface 162 and the overthrow mechanism is actuated to collapse the form 26. The garments are now hanging loosely on the form 26. Almost immediately thereafter, limit switch 170 is engaged and closed by cam 160, and this action energizes valve 174 to allow high pressure air to flow through jets 176 upwardly along the toe portions of the collapsed form 26, thus stripping the garment from the moving form and diverting it into the inlet 34 of conveyor 36. The panty hose garments received by conveyor 36 will normally be transported to stacking or packaging machines. However, if reject button 163 has been manually actuated to indicate that the panty hose on the form are defective, the protruding pm 164 will have engaged and momentarily closed the normally open contact of reject switch 168, thereby signalling the conveyor system. In response to such a signal the conveyor system can by means of a selection valve assembly direct the rejected garment to a reject bag. As the collapsed boarding form moves beyond the stripping position the reject pin 164 engages cam surface 166 and is automatically cammed back to its normal position.

The collapsed form 26 then continues on to the loading station, where another garment is telescoped thereon and the form then expanded manually by the operator.

In order to provide a complete understanding of the construction and operation of the improved semiboarding form of this invention, and to highlight its features, the form has been described in a particular embodiment as a part of a particular system. The invention should not be limited to this embodiment or this system for manufacturing hosiery, however, for modifications and variations are possible within the spirit of the invention, and the scope of the invention is established by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. For use in combination with a hosiery handling apparatus in which a plurality of hosiery forms are conveyed about an endless path from a loading station through a treatment chamber to a stripping station, an improved hosiery form for panty garments comprising, a base, mounting means for supporting said base on a conveyor for movement therewith about its endless path, a pair of forming legs carried on said base and extending therefrom in generally parallel spaced relation, said legs each including first and second elongated slender rod members disposed on opposite sides of said legs to define an open form for supporting the legs of a panty hose garment loaded thereon, said first elongated rod members each having one end rigidly mounted on said base and extending therefrom in spaced generally parallel relation to one another, said second elongated rod members being mounted for substantially translational movement toward and away from said first elongated rod members, means supporting said first and second elongated rod members in generally parallel spaced relation and for movement of said second elongated rod members relative to said first elongated rod members between an expanded position and a collapsed position, separator means for releasably retaining said elongated rod members in said expanded position, means biasing said elongated rod members toward said collapsed position.

2. The hosiery form defined in claim 1 further comprising hinged toe expansion means pivotally connecting said first and second elongated rod members of each said forming leg adjacent the end thereof opposite said one end.

3. The hosiery form defined in claim 2 wherein said means for releasably retaining said elongated rod members in said expanded position comprises over-center toggle means pivotally connected to each of said second elongated rod members, and means connecting said hinged toe expansion means and said over-center toggle means for maintaining said first and said second elongated rod members substantially parallel throughout their movement between said expanded and said collapsed positions. I 4. A collapsible hosiery form comprising a pair elongated rod members each supported at one end by a base, said rod members being in generally parallel relationship to one another and being movable with respect to one another between a collapsed position whereby a hosiery article can be easily loaded onto or stripped from said form and an expanded position whereby a hosiery article is shaped by said form, toe expansion means attached to the free end of each of said rod members and spanning the space between said free ends to shape the toe of a hosiery article, said toe expansion means being expansible to accommodate the movement of said rod members between said positions, overthrow linkage means attached to at least one of said rod members for holding said rod members in said expanded position, said overthrow linkage including a cam means engagable be a cam surface to collapse said overthrow linkage to therby move said rod members from said expanded position to said collapsed position, and means biasing said rod members toward said collapsed position;

5. A collapsible hosiery form according to claim 4 wherein said toe expansion means comprises a pair of toe plates of generally triangular shape, one toe plate having a first corner pivotally attached to one of said rods and a second corner attached to the other said toe plate, and the other said toe plate having a first corner pivotally attached to the other said rod and a second corner pivotally attached to theone said toe plate.

6. A collapsible hosiery form according to claim '5 wherein said second corners are oriented toward said base, and further comprising means for moving said rods between said positions and rigid means pivotally connected to said second corners and to said means for moving said rods to urge said second corners in a direction away from said base when said rods are moved to.

said expanded position and to pull said second corners toward said base when said rods are moved tosaid collapsed positionf v g 7. A collapsible hosieryform according to claim 4 wherein one of said rods is fixedly attached to said base and the other said rod is movably attached to said base.

8. A collapsible hosiery form for accommodating one leg of a hosiery article comprising first and second elongated'slender rod members each supported atone end by abase and extending from said base in substantially parallel relationship to one another, said rod members being movable laterally with respect toone another between a collapsed position wherein a hosiery article can be easily loaded onto or stripped from said form and an expanded positionwherein said hosiery article is shaped by said form, toe expansion means attached to the free ends of said elongated rod members and spanning the space between said free ends to shape the toe portion of said hosiery article, said toe expansionmeans comprising first and second toe expansion members pivotally attached together, said first toe expansion member also being pivotally attached to said first elongated rod member and said second toe expansion member being pivotally attached to said second elongated-rod member, said toe expansion members being in overlapping relationship with one another for substantially their entire lengths when said elongated rod members are in said first or said second position or any position intermediate thereof to form an unbroken outline'along the entire periphery of said rod members and said expansion members.

9. A collapsible hosiery form comprising first and second elongated slender rod members each supported at one end by a base and extending outwardly therefrom in substantially parallel relationship with one another to define a first leg form for one leg of a hosiery article, third and fourth elongated slender rod members supported at one end by said base and extending outwardly therefrom in substantially parallel relationship to said first and second rod members to define a second leg form for the second leg of a hosiery article, said sec- 0nd and third rod members being fixedly attached to said base andsaid first and fourth rod members being movable with respec t to said base and said second and third rod members respectively between collapsed positions wherein said legs can be easily loaded onto and stripped from said leg forms and expanded positions wherein said legs are shaped by said leg forms, leg form expansion means comprising first and second expansion arms for moving said first and fourth rod members, said first expansion arm being attached to said first rod member and said second expansion arm being attached to said fourth rod member, said first and second expansion means further being attached to one another to simultaneously move said first and fourth rod members, and first and second toe expansion means attached respectively to the free ends of said first and second rod members-and said third and fourth rod members and spanning the space between respective said rod members to shape the toe portion of said first and second legs, said toe expansion means being expansible to accommodate the movement of said rod members between said collapsed position and said expanded. position. v

' l0. A'co'llapsible hosiery form according to claim 9 and further comprising first and second toe expansion rods for operating respectively said first and second toeexpansion means, each said toe expansion rod being attached to a respective said toe expansion means and to said leg form expansion means for expanding and collapsing said toe expansion means coincidentally with V the expansion and collapse of said leg forms.

11. A collapsible hosiery form according to claim 10 further comprising'means biasing said first and fourth rod members toward said collapsed position.

12. A collapsible hosiery form according to claim 10 wherein each said toe expansion means provides a continuous unbroken outline along the periphery thereof regardless of the position of said rod members. 

1. For use in combination with a hosiery handling apparatus in which a plurality of hosiery forms are conveyed about an endless path from a loading station through a treatment chamber to a stripping station, an improved hosiery form for panty garments comprising, a base, mounting means for supporting said base on a conveyor for movement therewith about its endless path, a pair of forming legs carried on said base and extending therefrom in generally parallel spaced relation, said legs each including first and second elongated slender rod members disposed on opposite sides of said legs to define an open form for supporting the legs of a panty hose garment loaded thereon, said first elongated rod members each having one end rigidly mounted on said base and extending therefrom in spaced generally parallel relation to one another, said second elongated rod members being mounted for substantially translational movement toward and away from said first elongated rod members, means supporting said first and second elongated rod members in generally parallel spaced relation and for movement of said second elongated rod members relative to said first elongated rod members between an expanded position and a collapsed position, separator means for releasably retaining said elongated rod members in said expanded position, means biasing said elongated rod members toward said collapsed position.
 2. The hosiery form defined in claim 1 further comprising hinged toe expansion means pivotally connecting said first and second elongated rod members of each said forming leg adjacent the end thereof opposite said one end.
 3. The hosiery form defined in claim 2 wherein said means for releasably retaining said elongated rod members in said expanded position comprises over-center toggle means pivotally connected to each of said second elongated rod members, and means connecting said hinged toe expansion means and said over-center toggle means for maintaining said first and said second elongated rod members substantially parallel throughout their movement between said expanded and said collapsed positions.
 4. A collapsible hosiery form comprising a pair of elongated rod members each supported at one end by a base, said rod members being in generally parallel relationship to one another and being movable with respect to one another between a collapsed position whereby a hosiery article can be easily loaded onto or stripped from said form and an expanded position whereby a hosiery article is shaped by said form, toe expansion means attached to the free end of each of said rod members and spanning the space between said free ends to shape the toe of a hosiery article, said toe expansion means being expansible to accommodate the movement of said rod members between said positions, overthrow linkage means attached to at least one of said rod members for holding said rod members in said expanded position, said overthrow linkage including a cam means engagable be a cam surface to collapse said overthrow linkage to therby move said rod members from said expanded position to said collapsed position, and means biasing said rod members toward said collapsed position.
 5. A collapsible hosiery form according to claim 4 wherein said toe expansion means comprises a pair of toe plates of generally triangular shape, one toe plate having a first corner pivotally attached to one of said rods and a second corner attached to the other said toe plate, and the other said toe plate having a first corner pivotally attached to the other said rod and a second corner pivotally attached to the one said toe plate.
 6. A collapsible hosiery form according to claim 5 wherein said second corners are oriented toward said base, and further comprising means for moving said rods between said positions and rigid means pivotally connected to said second corners and to said means for moving said rods to urge said second corners in a direction away from said base when said rods are moved to said expanded position and to pull said second corners toward said base when said rods are moved to said collapsed position.
 7. A collapsible hosiery form according to claim 4 wherein one of said rods is fixedly attached to said base and the other said rod is movably attached to said base.
 8. A collapsible hosiery form for accommodating one leg of a hosiery article comprising first and second elongated slender rod members each supported at one end by a base and extending from said base in substantially parallel relationship to one another, said rod members being movable laterally with respect to one another between a collapsed position wherein a hosiery article can be easily loaded onto or stripped from said form and an expanded position wherein said hosiery article is shaped by said form, toe expansion means attached to the free ends of said elongated rod members and spanning the space between said free ends to shape the toe portion of said hosiery article, said toe expansion means comprising first and second toe expansion members pivotally attached together, said first toe expansion member also being pivotally attached to said first elongated rod member and said second toe expansion member being pivotally attached to said second elongated rod member, said toe expansion members being in overlapping relationship with one another for substantially their entire lengths when said elongated rod members are in said first or said second position or any position intermediate thereof to form an unbroken outline along the entire periphery of said rod members and said expansion members.
 9. A collapsible hosiery form comprising first and second Elongated slender rod members each supported at one end by a base and extending outwardly therefrom in substantially parallel relationship with one another to define a first leg form for one leg of a hosiery article, third and fourth elongated slender rod members supported at one end by said base and extending outwardly therefrom in substantially parallel relationship to said first and second rod members to define a second leg form for the second leg of a hosiery article, said second and third rod members being fixedly attached to said base and said first and fourth rod members being movable with respect to said base and said second and third rod members respectively between collapsed positions wherein said legs can be easily loaded onto and stripped from said leg forms and expanded positions wherein said legs are shaped by said leg forms, leg form expansion means comprising first and second expansion arms for moving said first and fourth rod members, said first expansion arm being attached to said first rod member and said second expansion arm being attached to said fourth rod member, said first and second expansion means further being attached to one another to simultaneously move said first and fourth rod members, and first and second toe expansion means attached respectively to the free ends of said first and second rod members and said third and fourth rod members and spanning the space between respective said rod members to shape the toe portion of said first and second legs, said toe expansion means being expansible to accommodate the movement of said rod members between said collapsed position and said expanded position.
 10. A collapsible hosiery form according to claim 9 and further comprising first and second toe expansion rods for operating respectively said first and second toe expansion means, each said toe expansion rod being attached to a respective said toe expansion means and to said leg form expansion means for expanding and collapsing said toe expansion means coincidentally with the expansion and collapse of said leg forms.
 11. A collapsible hosiery form according to claim 10 further comprising means biasing said first and fourth rod members toward said collapsed position.
 12. A collapsible hosiery form according to claim 10 wherein each said toe expansion means provides a continuous unbroken outline along the periphery thereof regardless of the position of said rod members. 